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Journal of Labor Economics Vol. 37 No. S2 2019

How Do the US and Canadian Social Safety Nets Compare for Women and Children?

Hilary Hoynes1,2; Mark Stabile3

1 National Bureau of Economic Research · 2 University of California, Berkeley · 3 INSEAD

Abstract

The past quarter-century has seen substantial change in the social safety nets for families with children in the United States and Canada. Both countries have moved away from cash welfare, but the United States has relied more on work requirements. We examine the implications for the employment and poverty of low-educated single mothers. We find that employment improved substantially in both countries, absolutely and relative to a control group of single women without children. Poverty rates also declined in both countries, with more of the decline coming through market income in the United States and benefit income in Canada.

DOI
10.1086/703260
Volume
37
Issue
S2
Pages
S253-S288
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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